Apparatus for handling wagon-bodies.



J. M. ETMIAN.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WAGON BODIES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1911.

1,040,177. 4 Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

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J. M. ETMIAN. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WAGON BODIES. 1

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1911.

1,040,177. Patented 0011,1912.-

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JOHN M. ETM-IAhT, 0F MA PLETON, -1\TOR".["I-]E DAKOTA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WAGON-BODIES.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed September 26, 1911. Ser'ial'No. 651,410.

Patented Oct. 1,1912.

To all whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that I, JOHN ETMIAN, a Z citizen of the United States, residing at 1 Mapl'eton, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for I-Iandling Wagon-Bodies, of which the following i is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for. handling wagon bodies, the object of the invention being to provide simple and elfective apparatus for raising and lowering wagon bodies and inverting or turning the same bottom side up and securing the same in such inverted position.

Large numbers of tank wagons are em-l ployed in various sections of the country; and on account of the expense of erecting barnes, sheds and the like for housing such wagons when not in use, the bodies of the wagons are frequently left unprotected from the elements and, therefore, severe rapid deterioration owing to sudden changes in the weather.

The object of the present invention is to 1 provide means whereby the bodies of wagons may be readily lifted off the trucks or running gears and turned upside down so as to enable the same to shed water, snow and the like, thereby greatly increasing the life of the wagon bodies.

With the above and other objects in'view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein. fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing a wagon body supported at an elevation thereby and held in its normal upright position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the body inverted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through one of the trunnions and the support therefor. Fig. 4 is an end View of the apparatus, showing one of the hoisting ropes and the tackle associated therewith. Fi 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the Windlass and pawl and ratchet elements connected to one of the posts. Fig.6 is a detail vertical section showing the hoisting block and the relation thereto to one of the trunnions. Fig. 7 i is a detail side elevation of a portion of one of the sides of the body. Fig. 8 is a similar 1 view of a portion of oneof the cover sec tions. r

The apparatus contemplated in this in vention comprises in the preferred embody ing thereof four uprights or posts 1 which may be embedded at their lower ends in the ground at a suitable distance apart to provide for the hoisting and support of a wagon body between them as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each of said posts is provided with a longitudinal slot 2 and the portions of'th'e post at opposite sides of the slot are provided with transversely alined holes j 3 adapted-to receive pins 4, the latter being removably inserted in the holes and shift able tolone hole from another as will be readily understood in Figs. 1 and 2. The plns 4 are adapted to uphold a pair of com- 'bined supporting and lifting bars and levers 5 provided at opposite ends with hand grip portions 6. These combined bars and levers pass through the slots 2 of the posts and are movableup and down in said slots and are adapted to rest on the pins 4. The bars are further provided about centrally with socket plates 7 adapted to receive trunnions 8 at opposite ends of the wagon body 9. Each of these trunnions is preferably provided with a flanged base 10 adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacentend of e the body 9 as shown at 11 and each trunnion is'preferably provided at its outer end with a head or circumferential flange 12 to prevent any possibility of the same escaping accidentally from the socket plate 7 when resting therein as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

y In order to support the body 9 in an upright position or right side up as shown in Fig. 1, stay ropes 13 are connected to the bars .5 at 14 and provided with hooks 15 at their opposite ends adapted to be inserted in eyes 16 on the body 9 as shown in Fig. 1, four of such stay ropes being preferably employed as illustrated.

In order to hoist the body off the wagon, I provide a pair of hoisting ropes 17, each of said ropes extending across between one pair of posts 1, as shown in Fig. 4, the rope having one end connected fast to an eye or staple 18 at the top of one post and passing over a pulley 19 at the top of the other post and downward around a Windlass 20 provided with an operating crank 21, the shaft of which has fast thereon a ratchet wheel 22 adapted to be engaged and held by a pawl or det'ent 23lfigMounted on the rope 17 between th"1')oi'nts"18'and 19is a pulley block 24 illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, the said pulley block embodying a swiveled shank 25 to which is connected an eye or ring 26 adapted to slip over the adjacent trunnion 8 as shown in, Fig. 6. After driving the wagon between the posts so as to bring the body thereof to approximately theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the eyes or rings 26 being placed over and around the trunnions 8 and then by means of the Windlass 20 the wagon body is hoisted ofi the running gear or truck to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The bars 5 may then be placed upon the pins, 1 of the posts and the body lowered until the trunnions rest in the socket plates 7. After this the stop ropes 13 may be brought into use in the manner above described or the body may be turned over bottom side up as shown in Fig. 2, and the cover sections 27 of the; body may be allowed to hang pendent as shown in Fig. 2. 1 If desired the hinges 28 which connect the coversections of the sides of the body may embody slotted leaves 29 forming hasps adapted to be removably fitted over eyes or staples 30 on the sides of the body and held in such position by means of pins 81, which construction enables the cover sections 7 to be detached from the sides of the body. When the body is adjusted to the final position shown in Fig. 2, it readily sheds water in rainy weather and may also be used to protect and keep dry any articles placed beneath such inverted body. If desired, the combined supporting bars and levers -may be used for raising and lowering the body by first lifting Jone" end of each bar '5 and then the other end, and correspondingly shiftin the removable pins 4 in accordance with the elevation of the end ofsaid bar just shifted. This provides for raisingand lowering the body without bringing the hoisting ropes into use. Ordinarily, however, it is preferred to use the 'hoisting ropes in conjunction with the bars or levers 5.

I claim 1. Apparatus of the class described com prising a series of parallel uprights, of posts formed with pin-receiving holes, pins removably inserted in said holes, a body, at-

taching means on said body, supporting and lifting bars and levers adapted for support on said pins, trunnion sockets on said bars, trunnions on opposite ends of the body, and

stays attached to said bars and adapted to be connected to the means on the body.

2. Apparatus of the class described co1nprising a series of posts or uprights formed with pin-receiving holes, pins removably inserted in said holes, supporting bars adapt- Gopies'of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

